U.S. Prosecutors Charge Two With Smuggling Military Items To Iran

One of the men is accused of trying to smuggle rubber O-rings,
which can be used in aircraft hydraulic systems and landing gear (file photo).

U.S. prosecutors have charged two men in connection with a plot to smuggle
millions of dollars of military aircraft parts and other items to Iran.

The Justice Department said in a statement on October 28 that Zavik Zargarian
and Vache Nayirian were arrested earlier in the week outside Los Angeles for
allegedly violating laws barring such trading with Iran.

The U.S. embargo bars the export of goods, technology, and services to Iran with
few exceptions.

The department said Zargarian tried to negotiate with an undercover U.S. agent
to obtain military aircraft parts, and later had discussions about items used in
F-16 and F-18 fighter jets.

Prosecutors said Nayirian was trying to export to the Iranian air force
thousands of rubber O-rings, which can be used in aircraft hydraulic systems and
landing gear.